Stories

Is a caterpillar...

Ron was dating my sister, Joanne; I was 10-11 years old at the time. He was always drawing little pictures & cartoons for me. One time, they came to visit, and he brought a poster he'd made for me.

It was a picture of a fuzzy leaf, with a laughing caterpillar on it. The verse was,

"Is a caterpillar ticklish?

Well, it's always my belief

that he giggles as he wiggles

across a hairy leaf!"

I still remember it, and still miss this man who was gentle and kind, knew the value of having a playful attitude toward life, and always had time for the sometimes-obnoxious little sister of his fiance.

Operation Oklahoma Hills

Up on Charlie Ridge. I had been in country only 2 days
I did not know him. I was still on Hill 55, just finished
checking in, but I remember the word being passed
about him and SSgt. Porta KIA April 8th, 1969. The
leadership ranks were being filled by Jr. Marines. My
Plt. Cmmdr. was LCpl Wm Ward, when I checked in
up on Charlie Ridge.